in a way that suits him, and invite the uninformed person in a way that suits him; every group requires a form of daʿwah tailored to its circumstances. The proof is that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent Mu‘ādh to Yemen he said to him, “You are going to a people who have received Scripture.” He acquainted him with their condition so that he could prepare himself and treat them according to their status, for since they are People of the Book they possess argumentative skill and a degree of learning that others do not. Idol-worshippers are ignorant and astray, whereas the People of the Book have knowledge; they therefore call for thorough preparation and must be confronted in the manner appropriate to them, because they see themselves as possessors of Scripture and learning. Hence the style of invitation has to take this into account, and for that reason he told him, “You are going to a people who have received Scripture.”

Let us give a practical example. Imagine an uninformed man who speaks while he is praying, thinking that such speech does no harm. We should not scold, rebuke, or be harsh with him; rather, when he has finished his prayer we say to him, “During this prayer none of the ordinary speech of people is permissible. It is only for tasbīḥ (glorification), takbīr (proclaiming Allah’s greatness), and the recitation of the Quran.” But if we know that someone understands that speaking in prayer is forbidden and invalidates it, yet—Allah forbid—he is reckless and speaks without concern, then we address him in the manner that befits him, speaking sternly and reprimanding him. Every situation has its appropriate response.

For this reason Allah the Exalted says, “Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom” (al-Naḥl 16:125). Wisdom is to put things in their proper places and to accord people their proper rank; therefore do not address people